UB Faculty Member Braun Receives Polish Award

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Kazimierz Braun, professor of theatre and dance at the University at Buffalo, has been awarded the Chivalry Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in recognition of his outstanding work in Polish literature, theater and scholarship.

A native of Poland, Braun came to UB in 1987 to head the acting program. Prior to that, he held visiting professorships at several U.S. universities, and had a distinguished academic and theatrical career in Poland.

Fluent in several languages, he is the author of numerous books and hundreds of essays, articles and book reviews. He holds a doctorate of humanities in theater from Wroclaw University, a doctorate of philosophy in letters from Poznan University, a master of fine arts in directing from the National School of Drama in Warsaw and a master of letters from Poznan University.

In 1992, Braun was appointed to the rank of professor in Poland by President Lech Walesa. The full professorship in Poland is a state title, bestowed by the country's president based on a university promotion and recommendation. It is not an appointment to a university, nor is it directly connected to a specific university.

Some of his recent screenplays and adaptations include "American Dreams," a play produced by a Polish theater company in Toronto;" Animal Farm," an adaptation of the George Orwell novel that was produced at UB, and Immigrant Queen, a play produced in Poland, Ireland and Toronto.

Most recently, his translation of "Dummies' Ball," a 20th-century Polish play, was staged last month in the UB Center for the Arts and marked the U.S. premier of the work.

Braun resides in Getzville.